Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

General Information
viii
Discrimination Act, such as
discrimination on the basis of sex or
marital status, or racial harassment.
A separate grievance procedure
exists to handle cases relating to
sexual harassment.
4. Resolving a grievance
Informal procedure
4.1 In the first instance, the student
should discuss the complaint where
relevant, with the lecturer (Higher
Education Division), member of
teaching staff (TAFE Division) or
member of administrative staff in an
attempt to resolve the complaint.
4.2 If the grievance cannot be resolved
in this way, the student may then
raise the matter with the head of
department.
4.3 Where a student has a complaint
against a membcr of staff who is also
the head of department, or in a case
where the student feels that to
approach the head of department is
not appropriate, the student may
take hisAler complaint to the dean or
head of school. The dean or head of
school will carry out the role
otherwise assigned to the head of
department, in these grievance
procedures.
4.4 The head of department will discuss
the complaint with the student and
advise the student where documentation
describing the grievance
procedure is available.
4.5 If the student's preference is for
internal resolution of the complaint,
the head of department will take a
written record of the complaint on a
pro forma grievance form.
It will contain:
a) the name of the complainant;
b) the name of the person(s)
against whom the complaint is
made;
c) the date of the complaint is
made;
d) the date(s) the bellaviour
resulting in the grievance took
place;
e) a brief description of the
nature of the complaint;
f) a summary of follow-up actions
taken.
The complainant will read
and sign the grievance form as being
a true record, after making any
appropriate altcrations.
4.6 No written rccord shall be taken nor
any further aclion initiated, if the
complainant is not willing to name
the respondent or does not pcrmit
the head of department to enter into
a conciliation process with the
respondent.
4.7 In cases where complaints are made
by a class (two or more students)
concerning academic or teaching
staff, the cornplainants will not be
named and the head of department
may proceed with conciliating and
resolving the complaint.
4.8 With the agreement of the
complainant, the head of department
will then attempt to resolve the
grievance with the member of staff
named in the complaint through
informal discussion and conciliation.
5. Conciliation and resolution
5.1 The head of department will meet
informally with the respondent for
the purposes of:
a) outlining the grievance and
naming the complainant
(except as covered by Clause
4.7);
b) making a written record of the
respondent's reply to the
complaint, which is signed and
considered a true record;
c) attempting to reach an
agreement with the
respondent that is acceptable
to the complainant;
d) attempting to ensure that there
are no reprisals taken against a
student who has made a
complaint in good faith;
e) outlining the requirements of
State and Federal Government
anti-discrimination legislation
or Swinburne Council policy,
where relevant;
I) advising the respondent that
another staff member will be
nominated to re-assess the
student's written work in
complaints relating to course
assessment.
5.2 If the grievance is successfully
resolved to the satisfaction of the
complainant the informal procedure
will cease at this point.
5.3 The written record of the informal
complaint will be retained for a
period of 12 months in a confidential
file in the office of the head of
department.
6. Re-assessment of submitted work or exam
paper
6.1 If the complaint concerns assessment
of written work which includes
assignments, reports or exam papers,
the head of department may after
discussing the complaint with the